6

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The sound of metal clanging against metal woke me. I groaned as I rolled over. The clanking came again. I was on the ground, why was I on the ground? My head was pounding and I couldn't remember. Growling came from behind me. Ignoring the pain I frantically rolled over and scrambled back, desperate to put as much distance between myself and Them as possible.

My back hit the far wall before my eyes and brain caught up to the fact that They were contained in the cell next to me. The cell. I was in a cell. My memory quickly filled in all the pieces from the night before. It didn't seem possible. This couldn't be real. But looking around at the small metal cell with the dirt floor I knew it was. I had done it again, made the wrong choice and Kate and I were going to suffer for it.

I breathed deeply, trying to get my heart to slow down. I needed to think. For right now, in this second I was safe. They couldn't reach me. I needed a plan.

The metal clanged again from the door of the cell. I snapped my head to the right to see Merle standing at the bars less than ten feet away. The metal casing on one of his arms was resting against the metal of the bars. In his hand was a bowl.

"Rise and shine sleeping beauty," he drawled a smirk plastered on his face.

I scowled at him. He was the one who had knocked me out and dragged me down here for Phillip...no, for The Governor.

He chuckled again. "Frowning at me like that won't change a thing," he stooped down and slid the bowl through the widest part of the bars.

I stared at the bowl but refused to move.

"Aw come on," he said. "Don't be like that. Gotta eat, keep your strength up."

"He can't keep me in here," I said, pleased my voice came out steady, because the truth was, he absolutely could keep me here. He was The Governor and Woodbury was his.

"Why's that?" Merle drawled his southern accent thick.

I stared at him, wanting him to feel guilty for his part in this, but he refused to look away.

"He-" I started to say and then stopped. "They'll notice I'm gone."

"Who?" Merle asked with a teasing smile.

"My sister," I muttered not longer caring that I had been speaking to Merle. If Kate figured out I was missing, if she had an inclination I had been taken she would make a scene, and...

I looked up at Merle, my eyes wide. "Oh don't worry your pretty little head, he'll come up with a good lie. He always does. It's easier, less noticeable if she just continues to get along."

"She's my sister," I muttered as the true horror of my situation started to sink in. There was only one person left in this world who gave a damn about me and if she figured out what had happened he would kill her. I really was trapped.

Merle snorted. "He's had all sorts down here," he called walking towards the door.

I frowned and climbed to my feet, moving towards the bars. There were other cells that I could see, but only mine and the one with Them were occupied.

"Where are they now?" I asked, fighting to keep my voice even and put on a brave face. The Governor had mentioned the ring, mentioned fighting, there was really only one thing that could have happened to them. "What's going to happen to me?"

Merle stopped with his hand on the door for the briefest of seconds he looked apologetic as his eyes ranged over the empty cells. "You're gonna fight," he said grimly.

I blinked, not understanding what he could mean. "For how long?"

"Til ya can't anymore," he said gravely. Then he cleared his throat. "I'll be back for the bowl," he said gruffly and he turned to leave.

I jumped forward, the toe of my boot catching the bowl on the floor. It slopped into the dirt. But I didn't care. Eating was the farthest thing from my mind. "Merle Dixon right?" I called after him a little desperately.

Merle swung back to look at me, scowling.

"That's you name isn't it?" I asked, wrapping my hands around the bars.

"Yeah, what of it?" he demanded. He wasn't following where I was going with this, but he was smart enough to be wary. I could see why The Governor kept him around now. I hadn't before, before when he was just Phillip. Phillip wouldn't need someone so gruff and violent in Woodbury. But The Governor...now Merle's presence made sense. He was a soldier, and a good one.

I gripped the bars tightly, feeling like this was my only chance. "I knew someone named Dixon," I told him.

"That so?" Merle asked, he was trying to appear casual, but I had his interest.

"He was my friend," I told Merle, and I was a little surprised to find it was the truth. I really had considered Daryl a friend, Rick too...I had been a fool to leave them. How rare was trust in this world, and I had discarded it, thinking I knew best. Well, I had made the mistake, now it was time I lived with it.

Merle snorted. "Then it ain't the same one," Merle assured me. "My baby brother don't have friends."

"Daryl Dixon," I said unprompted, lifting my eyebrows. "Dark hair, crossbow, drives a blue truck with a motorcycle in the back..."

Merle went very still and looked like I had struck him.

"He's-" he started to say but his voice dropped off.

"Alive," I supplied, leaning against the bars. "He gave me that truck," I told him. "It was at the house where we were found."

Merle shook his head like he wasn't buying my story. He turned to leave, stopped and swung back around to face me. His jaw was set in an angry line. As much as they might be brothers and as much as their eyes looked so much alike, I realized then that this man was not Daryl. He was nothing like Daryl and I needed to be very careful not to provoke him. He was a soldier, but the look in his eyes and the set to his shoulders made me wonder exactly how much control The Governor actually had over him.

"Why would he do that? Ya steal it girl?" He demanded striding dangerously towards my cell.

I swallowed and fought to stay where I was, when all I wanted to do was scamper back where he couldn't reach me. "Because I'm his friend," I repeated firmly. "We fought together, side by side," I told Merle. "He's with a group, a good group, led by this-"

"Cop," Merle ground out the word with so much venom I dropped my hands and took a step back. "Yeah, I know officer friendly. Where you think I get this?" Merle asked, holding up the metal casing where his left hand should have been.

I felt my eyes widen. I couldn't imagine Rick doing something like that. I shook my head in denial. "No," I said. "Daryl is safe with them, he's-" I swallowed and stopped talking as tears sprung into my eyes.

"You sweet on baby brother or something? You two bumping uglies?" Merle asked crassly.

I pulled back frowning. "No," I said like it was the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard. "I told you-"

"Yeah, you were friends, fought together, trust yada yada yada," Merle spit out the words with disgust clouding his voice. He snorted and shook his head. "Well girl, I got bad news for you. You're on your own. Baby brother ain't here."

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They kept me in the cell for four days before I saw anyone but Merle. He came down twice a day, leaving me a bowl of food in the morning and one at night. The food wasn't bad, it was clearly leftovers from whatever was being served to the rest of the community.

Four days. It doesn't sound like much but by then end of it I thought I was going to go insane. The cell was twelve feet by twelve feet with noting but a cot and a toilet. By the end of those four days I knew every square inch of it like the backs of my hands. There was no way out. I figured that out on the first day. The bars were strong enough to contain the herd of ten walkers next to me, I didn't stand a chance. Though, that didn't stop me from trying.

Once I was convinced there would br no chance of my breaking out I paced and I paced, back and forth, obsessively trying to think of some way to save us. And it really was us. Kate might not realize what was happening but her safety would only last as long as she cooperated. Hard to guarantee her cooperation when she had no idea it was life and death. That was my fault too. I had shielded her too much. Everything in this world was life and death now. I had done her a disservice protecting her. I failed her.

It was late evening on the fourth day when the door at the bottom of the stairs creaked open. I was expecting Merle, it was about dinner time, but this time Martinez and The Governor were with him.

The Governor led the way, swaggering up to my cell, a pleased grin stretched across his face. "Settling in darling?" He asked as though we were a couple who had moved in together.

I stood in the middle of my cell and crossed my arms over my chest. There had been plenty of tears over the last few days, but I would never let him see. I glared at him, refusing to answer.

His smile wavered for a second, then he cleared his throat and gestured to Martinez. Martinez stepped forward and shoved a pile of clothes through the bars.

"Time to go to work," The Governor said with a smile.

I looked from the pile of clothes to the three men, not fully understanding. Merle's face was carefully blank while the other two looked incredibly pleased with themselves. I wanted to take a step back away from them, anything to put distance between us, but there was a small voice in the back of my head that told me you never showed fear when you were faced with a predator.

When I still didn't move The Governor took another step closer to the bars. "Your first fight is tonight. You will put on those clothes. Go out there, smile at the crowds like you want to be there and fight. If you don't, your sister ends up in that cell," he growled, pointing to the cell across from mine.

I swallowed and nodded, not trusting my voice. I picked up the clothes and then looked at the three of them. When they gave no indication of leaving I gritted my teeth and turned my back on them to change. I heard someone snicker and I was pretty sure it was Martinez.

The shorts were tight and too short, and the black tank top didn't leave much to the imagination either but at least I could move in them. Once I was changed I turned back to see The Governor watching me, a pleased smile on his face.

"Just remember what will happen if you blow this," he warned me and he disappeared up the stair with Martinez trailing after.

Merle stood outside the cell for a few moments looking uncomfortable. Finally he sighed and tossed something at me. Instinctively I caught it. I frowned down at the wrap.

"You'll wanna wrap your hands," he said and he turned to go.

"Why?" I called after him.

He turned back and he suddenly looked very grave. "So you don't break your knuckles when you hit her."

And then he was gone. I swallowed and looked down at the wrap in my shaking hands. I couldn't do this. I had never been in a fight, not a real one. I had fought Them but that was different. They were trying to kill me, they were the mindless dead, and I had always had a weapon. This was different. This was another person. Someone who had chosen to go out there and fight just for the hell of it. Fight just for the enjoyment of beating another person until they couldn't get up again. That wasn't me. I couldn't do this. I didn't know how.

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Three Months Later

I sat in my cell staring down at my bloodied knuckles. I had fought two of The Governor's prize fighters tonight and stupid me had won both matches.

I hadn't meant to win, I normally threw one of my fights of the night. I usually ended up sore and with a beating but it lessened some The Governor's interest in me. The beating was worth it. The only other time I had won all my fights he had come down to my cell after.

I closed my hand into a fist, relishing the pain of the skin stretching and pulling where it had broke over the points of my knuckles. The pain kept me grounded, helped me banish memories best forgotten.

I had fully intended to throw the second fight. Planned to let the new girl kick my ass, but then I saw her making out with the Governor right before she stepped into the ring and something in my brain switched off...or maybe it switched on. I didn't know anymore. But she had come strutting into the ring, preening and blowing him kisses and waving to the crowd.

I decided then and there I was going to break his new toy.

And I did.

I played with her first, letting her get in a couple good shots and boost her ego. I waited until she was strutting around the ring, raising her arms and urging the crowd to cheer for her. Then I turned to The Governor, met his eyes through the crowd and smiled.

I saw him flinch, saw his eyes widen as he yelled her name but it was lost with the roar of the rest of the crowd. I slammed my foot into the side of her knee, destroying the joint. She fell to the sand and I was on her before she realized what happened. I beat her beautiful face until she was unrecognizable and it took both Martinez and Merle to pull me off.

They dragged me back by my arms as I swore and fought until they finally had to pick me up and carry me out of the ring and away from the prying eyes of the public. They dragged me away before the people of Woodbury got a really good look at me and saw past the lies The Governor told them.

When they finally got me back into my cell Martinez's eyes shone with fear. It made me smile. He flinched at the sight of my smile nearly tripping over his own feet to get away from me. He hurried out of the cell block to get the next spectacle ready for the crowd.

Merle hung around a minute longer. He leaned against the bars as he stood outside my cell watching me, his face strangely grim even for him. I ignored him until he went away, shaking his head. I couldn't talk right now. I didn't feel like there was enough civilization left in my brain right now to manage something as trivial as conversation.

I leaned back against the bars and closed my eyes while I fought to regain control of myself. I don't know how long I sat there, it sounded like two or three more fights went by. I heard Martinez and some of the other men come down and pull Them out of the cage next to mine, but I didn't open my eyes.

Finally, the cheers died down and I heard the loud click as the outside lights were turned out. Still I didn't move. I held myself perfectly still as I let my thoughts settle, making sure I had control again. I didn't move when I heard the light tread of feet outside my cell and the groan as the man dropped down to sit outside the cell with his back against the bars.

"You still with me Barbie?" Merle's voice called through the bars. I still didn't know why he called me that he had almost since the beginning. I looked nothing like a Barbie doll, too short, too athletic, plus I had dark hair. When I pointed it out to Merle he only laughed at me like I was missing some great joke. Maybe I was.

I grunted but didn't open my eyes. "He coming down here tonight?" I asked. My voice sounded angry, but if I was honest I was terrified at the thought. The Governor didn't have the balls to come in the cell with me, but he could torment me plenty from outside when he had the threat of violence against my sister hanging over my head.

Merle scoffed. "Naw, not after what you did in that ring." I heard him reach through the bars with his one good hand.

I opened my eyes and looked up to see him holding out a flask. I never understood why Merle was nice to me. Or rather, as nice as he was capable of being in his capacity of henchman to the man holding me captive. Maybe it had something to do with Daryl, but he had never mentioned him to me again after my first night.

I reached through the bars and took the flask. I knocked it back first, then poured a little bit of it over my knuckles. I hissed as the alcohol made contact with the cuts.

"Thought we lost you on that one Barbie." he commented, keeping his back to me.

I looked up at him sharply. "She was nothing." I replied. "I was just playing with her."

"I know," Merle agreed grimly. "Not what I meant. You were like a wild animal out there. Looked like you went rabid for a minute."

I ran a hand over my hair. "Yeah," I agreed holding the flask back out to him. I didn't want to admit even to myself how little control I had out there any more.

"He's pissed. The old Governor is going to be gunning for you now. I'd start sleeping with one eye open."

"Because I've been living in a spa up until now?" I snapped back angrily.

Merle chuckled humorlessly. "It can always get worse Barbie. Remember that. And he is real creative. You watch your back." Merle never seemed to get riled up. Anytime I lost my temper and yelled at him or was mean he would simply laugh it off.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, I pressed my lips together in a tight line wondering if I had waited long enough to ask. "How's Katie?" I asked in a small voice.

Merle nodded. "She's good, dat'in some kid works in the garage."

"Thanks," one of the things Merle did was keep an eye out for Kate for me. She didn't like him, which made me smile, but he kept pestering her regardless and kept me updated about her life. It sounded like she was doing as well as could be expected. She had really settled into life in Woodbury. She had bought the lie hook, line and sinker and I couldn't be more thankful.

"She thinks you're out on another long run up to New York or somewhere. He convinced her you were after some medicine or something for Milton up at one of the Universities...fight'in to save everyone from the disease." Merle chuckled and shook his head as though it were the most ridiculous thing he ever heard.

I nodded, it was as good of an excuse as any. The Governor had tried to keep up the facade at first.Pretending I was his girlfriend, letting me see Kate a few times every week in very controlled circumstances. But as the weeks crept by, no matter how hard I tried to act like everything was fine and normal, Kate had started to see the changes. It had been over a month and half since I had seen her now. I couldn't imagine what she would think of me had she been in that crowd tonight. Lucky for me Kate had shown no interest what so ever in seeing the fights.

Merle and I sat in silence for a long while, passing the flask back and forth. He never asked me about my past and I never bothered him about his. Somehow after he was separated from Daryl he ended up with The Governor and now, as far as I could see, he was just as much a captive to the governor's psychotic whims as I was. The only difference was I got to stare the bars to my cell in the face every day.

"One more week," I observed taking another pull off the flask.

Merle snorted. "You say that every week Barbie, and you just keep getting tougher and tougher. Keep on fighting."

I looked down at my hands and started picking the blood out from under my nails.

"You still keeping track?" He asked turning towards me.

I shook my head, though I think we both knew it was a lie.

I fought every week, fight night in the compound was Saturday nights. I had fought thirteen times. Usually I faced other female prize fighters, but after my little display tonight I wasn't sure what he would have in store for me next week.

Merle nodded, though he didn't call me on it. He stood, groaning as he pulled himself to his feet. "Well, 'ol Merle is going to shuffle his self off to bed." He said. He held out the flask for me to down the last of it, which I did happily. It might help me sleep. While I had won both fights I had taken a few good licks from my first opponent. The whiskey would help dull both the pain in my ribs and the groaning of my few remaining neighbors in the cage next door. I almost never slept more than an hour anymore except on the nights when Merle brought down his flask.

I walked over to the bars. "Thanks Merle." I said sincerely, putting the flask in his hand.

Merle nodded, looking uncomfortable. "You keep your chin up there Barbie." and he sauntered off.

I shuffled over to my cot. I laid down and tried to pretend I was someone else, somewhere else.

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Hello friends! I hope you are enjoying the story! It's so close! Negan is almost here! Get excited! Trying to decide if I should give you one last teaser...